MERS spreads to Italy, three cases reported

This undated image released by the British Health Protection Agency shows an electron microscope image of a coronavirus, part of a family of viruses that cause ailments including the common cold and SARS, which was first identified last year in the Middle East. British officials say a mysterious virus related to SARS may have spread between humans, as they confirmed the 11th case worldwide of the new coronavirus in a patient who they say probably caught it from a family member. Officials at the World Health Organization said the new virus has probably already spread between humans in some instances. (AP Photo/Health Protection Agency)

ROMEThree people were being treated Saturday for a new respiratory virus, MERS, that is alarming global health officials, in the first cases in Italy, the country's health ministry said.

A 45-year-old man who had recently returned from a 40-day visit to Jordan was hospitalized in Tuscany with a high fever, cough and respiratory problems, the ministry said. Tuscan regional officials say that a young child who is related to the man and a work colleague also have the virus, the ministry said.

All three patients were reported to be in good condition and were being treated in isolation.

The virus is a coronavirus and is related to SARS, which killed about 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003. The U.N. health agency said Sunday that it had been informed of 53 confirmed cases of the new virus since September.